Crossing The Cascades to the Coast

Hello, ZZ's, Today was a repetition of a portion of our trip four years ago. Unfortunately, both batteries for my camera were depleted at the same time and I had to use Barb's until one of my batteries was recharged. What that means is that the pictures from the crossing of the Cascades are a bit out of sequence. Her picture numbers are lower than mine so they are at the beginning of the album instead of in the middle. I'll try to guide you through them East to West for those who care--lol You should begin with the picture before that of the morning moon which was visible as we left Moses Lake. Headed toward Wenatchee we passed through agricultural fields that were either being harvested or were finished. It was interesting to see the fields labeled by crop along the way to Quincy--where Quincy Market exists, though nothing like the one in Boston. Alfalfa, field corn, sweet corn, canola seed, timothy, grain corn, were just some of the crops I remember. Since we were last here the road by-passes Wenatchee which is fine. We have found the Washington drivers rude and impatient. Horns blow constantly--especially, if you don't zoom out the very second the light turns green. Interestingly, EVERY driver who has blown a horn at us has been a woman! Soon, after Wenachee we were in Cashmere, home of Aplets and Cotlets, a delicious jellied candy of apples or apricots mixed with nuts and powdered with confectionary sugar, lightly. Bought a box for Betsy and a box of smoothies for Bill, no nuts, and a box of fruit delights which are the same as applets and cotlets but with blueberry, pineapple and others I cannot remember. We also bought a box of water crackers for our sardine dinner when we have it, some fruit and nut sticks for the car or before bed snack. Then it was on to Leavenworth, a make-believe Bavarian town. It is cutsie and boutiquey--we stayed there twice as a hq for trips to the coast last time but today we just stopped to pick up some Priority boxes and gas. We had also stopped at Prey's fruitstand just outside town and got some apples--left my notebook in the car so don't remember the name of the two I got--one was a Gala/Braeburn cross that I think was called Sweetie. It was sweet but more MacIntosh texture which isn't my favorite. It is a New Zealand apple. I also got an apple with a German name that dates back to the 17th c or earlier and whose roots are unknown and which is not a good pollinator of other apple trees. How could I possibly ignore this poor little baby who doesn't know its ancestry and which other apple trees reject? It was delicious--not the type --but the flavor. Wish I'd gotten more. They had lots of pears but wasn't in the mood; did, however, pick up a few Italian plums and some little golden jobs. A bag of salt water taffy completed the order. Now, after Leavenworth pix if you go back to the beginning of the pix you will see the Wenatchee River along which we passed before entering Steven's Pass over the Cascades. I found it more difficult to deal with on both trips than the crossing of the Rockies. But I was ready for it this time so knew just to look up and over rather than ahead and down. The foliage coming down the mountain slopes looked as though a giant had passed through with paint buckets on both hands that slopped over as he walked. Just incredible. When you get to the pix of Moses Lake and the moon, go to the pictures of the tunnel through the mountain and you are back on the road after the Pass. We then passed through several little towns--called cities out here!--looks as though 1000 folks allow that designation. Anyway, once more the names give a clue to the history--Gold Bar, StartUp, and the larger, whose name I now forget where there was everything one needs, except an eye doctor. While stopped at a red light we were startled to see a big sign in some language, unrecognizable and with absolutely no English translation. Very disconcerting. Anyway, we continued to Arlington rather than West to Everett and its real city traffic and then West to pick up I 5 to Mt Vernon. We'd seen the wine country and apple country of Washington and now were truly on the West Coast having crossed the volcanic Cascades. Looking northeast we could see a high mountain covered with snow but at our motel we were greeted with the sight and aroma of wonderful roses in bloom. Tired, I uploaded the pix and when I couldn't rearrange them decided to call it a night. Had carrots and hummus for dinner. Packed up all the candy and postcards and model red bus from Glacier to send home. Books wouldn't fit in--another box, another time. The weather report for the weekend did not look promising and so we were a bit bummed and didn't know what we were going to do--hated to go to the islands and the crossing in rough weather --but the islands were right up there with Glacier as a "want to see" location. Barb went next door to Arby's to get a sandwich and fries. She met two women there, one of whom lives in Friday Harbor. They both told her that the Islands don't get the rain etc that the mainland does --that Vancouver Island sort of protects them. So we decided we'd not fret until morning. Watched TV and to bed. To be continued in next email. BarbZig and KatZag